Natalie froze in place. Her chest heaved quick, like an animal trapped in a wide field with nowhere to run. "What are you all saying?!" Cassian let out a quiet laugh. He leaned forward to explain, but the pets clawed at him again. They barked, clucked, and squealed without stopping, their voices crashing together in a wave of noise. Cassian listened patiently. He nodded along. "Mm. Alright. Oh, I understand." Natalie's face fell. Her mouth went dry. It felt as if every creature in the room spoke the same language, and she alone was left out in the dark. So I'm abandoned and alone. Lucky caught her troubled stare. The dog pressed her paws against Natalie's chest and barked again, sharp and eager. Natalie only heard, "Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow." Cassian heard something else. "Natalie, why aren't you talking? Are you afraid I won't get it?" His lips twitched. He nearly laughed. He had just realized how much of a chatterbox Lucky really was. The three were bursting with joy. For the first time in their lives, someone understood them. Their words tumbled out without pause. They pulled at Cassian, each one desperate to speak. They had tried so many times before to share their thoughts. Natalie had never heard a thing. Now that Cassian could understand them, they refused to hold back.Natalie stood in the middle of the chaos. The noise roared in her ears. Not one word made sense. Panic flared hot inside her chest. In a sudden move, she grabbed the glass from Cassian. She tilted her head and swallowed the last gulp of spring water. The shock hit at once. This was no faint buzz. This was lightning. The numbness rushed from her tongue to her stomach, spreading like fire through every nerve. Her body tingled and sparked as if alive with current. Cassian's strength had fooled her. What he called mild was far worse. Natalie held herself firm until the wave passed. Then a voice drifted into her ears, a voice sweet and playful, and yet familiar. "My gorgeous, perfect Natalie, are you okay?" Her head snapped toward the sound. Lucky stood before her, tail wagging, eyes shining. Natalie's breath caught. "Lucky ... was that really you?" The dog sprang forward with delight. "Yes, it's me! You finally understand your baby girl!" Lucky slammed into her with full weight. Natalie staggered, almost knocked over. Cassian's hand shot out to steady her back. Natalie straightened with effort, her brows drawn tight. "You fat dog, you seriously need to lose weight." Lucky scrunched her nose, wounded. "When you first took me home, you called me your baby. Now you call me a fat dog?" Natalie almost burst out laughing. Cassian's mouth curved, his eyes amused. Natalie rubbed the dog's massive head. "I never knew you were this funny." For all her heavy frame, Lucky's voice carried softness. Her words spilled out sweet and girlish. Natalie looked at her bulky body and almost forgot she was still just a young female dog.Lucky tilted her head, nuzzling against Natalie like a spoiled girl begging for love. Then Cash flapped his wings hard. He darted from Cassian's arms and landed in Natalie's chest. "Hooman! You're playing favorites! Look at me too!" Natalie gasped and caught him quickly. Laughter burst from her lips. "Oh, listen to you! You sound like a duck!" She turned to Cassian, her cheeks warm. "How did you keep from laughing earlier?" Cassian's lips pulled in a faint smirk. "It's my first time seeing something like this. I was too stunned to laugh." Lucky flicked her ears. "See? Even you admit that ugly bird sounds awful." A deep voice rumbled then, strong as stone. Baron's tone matched his frame, heavy and fierce. Natalie stared at the three of them. She spoke without hesitation. "Cash has the worst voice." Cash screeched in outrage. "What?! Hooman, how could you say that? You're joining them in bullying me!" Lucky barked, smug and sharp. "She's right. You sound like you've got a frog stuck in your throat." Cash puffed up with fury. "How dare you, fat dog? You're as round as a pig, and you think you can judge my perfect voice?" Lucky growled back. "Ugly bird, mind your mouth when you talk to me. Do you want a fight?" Baron snorted loud. "I knew it. You've never let it go. I'll deal with you soon." Lucky's eyes flashed. "Try it if you dare. Natalie's right here!" Natalie pressed both hands against her temples. The noise was deafening. No wonder Cassian hadn't bothered translating.Her head throbbed. Their voices clawed at her ears. "Enough! Quiet! All of you!" Her shout ripped through the chaos. She had to yell again and again until silence finally fell. Before they could start up once more, she cut in fast. "Tell me this. What were you talking about before we drank the water?" That was the reason she had taken the risk. She needed the truth. The three rushed to explain, each voice tumbling over the other. Natalie listened, and her lips twitched. She and Cassian had believed Lucky was giving orders, planning with Cash and Baron to guard the house. The truth was far sillier. Lucky had only been bragging. She'd only been making the other two bow down and worship her.